Stackable artcle-packaging container

ABSTRACT

A stackable article-packaging container includes an accommodating unit including a receptacle bottom plate and a plurality of slant sidewalls extending from edges of the receptacle bottom plate so as to define a receptacle space, a lid unit including a cover plate and a plurality of slant sidewalls extending from edges of the cover plate so as to define a receptacle space, and a locking unit including a locking bottom plate and a plurality of slant sidewalls extending from edges of the locking bottom plate so as to define a receptacle space. The accommodating unit and the locking unit are disposed at opposite side of the lid unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a stackable article-packaging containerand, more particularly, to a container which is stackable when articlesare not accommodated therein and which is provided with a safe lockingunit for preventing the container from being unintentionally openedduring transportation or storage. Furthermore, the present inventionpertains to a container which is stackable and is provided with a safelocking unit and which is capable of safely packaging fragile articlessuch as eggs or the like piece by piece and is capable of preventing thecontents of articles from being leaked to the outside even when thearticles are damaged.

BACKGROUND, ART

A pulp molding technique is known as a method for manufacturing a papercontainer which packages fragile articles such as eggs or the like pieceby piece. In case of manufacturing an egg packaging container with thepulp molding technique, a lid can be one-piece molded with the containerif the size of the container is small. However, if the size of thecontainer is large, it is difficult to one-piece mold a lid with thecontainer. For example, in case of a large container for accommodating30 pieces of eggs, it is difficult to one-piece mold a lid with thecontainer. For that reason, a separate lid made of a synthetic resin isused This is not environmentally friendly. In case of a smallegg-packaging container for accommodating 10 or 20 pieces of eggs, a lidcan be one-piece molded with the container through the use of the pulpmolding technique. However, it is difficult to directly print anindication such as a trademark or a manufacturer of articles on thesurface of the lid. Thus, a label having a source indication printedthereon is affixed to the surface of the container. This may lead to anincreased manufacturing cost. Moreover, when manufacturing anarticle-packaging container through the use of the pulp moldingtechnique, a drying process for drying a molded container is needed anda great deal of energy is consumed in the drying process.

In an effort to solve the problems inherent in the paper containermanufactured by the pulp molding technique, U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,537discloses an egg container formed by folding a paper sheet such as acorrugated paperboard or the like. The egg container shown in FIGS. 8and 9 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,537 is made of a corrugated paperboard or acardboard and is advantageous in that printing can be performed on theouter surface of the container. The embodiment of the container shown inFIG. 9 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,462,537 is relevant to the container of thepresent invention. However, the container shown in FIG. 9 of U.S. Pat.No. 4,462,537 is not stackable because the sidewalls of the containerinterfere with each other. In order to stack the aforementionedcontainer, there is a need to partially remove the sidewalls to whichthe slant walls existing at the center of the container are bonded. Ifthe sidewalls are partially removed for a stacking purpose, the strengthof the container becomes weak. In case where the container is notstackable, a large amount of cost is required in storing andtransporting the container. Moreover, the container cannot be suppliedin a stacked state to an egg packaging apparatus installed in anexisting poultry farm. This makes it difficult to utilize the existingegg packaging apparatus.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,727 discloses a paper-made packaging container whichmay solve the problems inherent in the container of U.S. Pat. No4,462,537. The container shown in FIG. 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,727 ismade of a corrugated paperboard or a cardboard and is advantageous inthat printing can be performed on the container and in that onecontainer can be staked above the other container with the lids thereofopened.

The container disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,188,727 includes a cover, abottom part and an insert. A recess is formed in the bottom part. Theinsert is bonded to the bottom part around the recess and is installedupright, thereby dividing the bottom part into a plurality of receptaclecells for accommodating articles. The insert is formed by folding adeveloped paper sheet along fold lines Such that the insert hasthrough-holes when in an upright state. Thus, two containers are stackedin such a way that, when the cover is opened, the insert of the lowercontainer is inserted into the insert of the upper insert through therecess of the upper insert.

However, all the articles accommodated within the receptacle cellsdefined by the insert are partially supported by the sidewalls. Thisposes a problem in that, when an impact is applied to the containerduring storage or transportation, it is impossible to sufficientlyprotect the articles accommodated within the container. Furthermore, thearticles accommodated within the container make direct contact with thebottom plate of the container. This also poses a problem in that it isimpossible to sufficiently protect the accommodated articles from theimpact transferred through the bottom plate. Moreover, a process forfolding the insert of a complex structure having a large number of foldlines is hardly automated through the use of a machine. A process forbonding the folded insert to the bottom part is also hardly automatedthrough the use of a machine. In other words, there is a problem in thatthe container is structurally complex and is unsuitable for massproduction, which in turn increases the price of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Technical Problems

In the market, a demand has existed for a container capable of safelyand cost-effectively packaging fragile articles such as eggs or thelike. In order to comply with this market demand and to solve theproblems inherent in the aforementioned U.S. patents, the presentinventor has invented a fragile article packaging container and hasfiled two Korean patent applications, one of which is Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2011-0112570 (filed on Oct. 31, 2011) and the otherof which is Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0121229 (filed on Nov.18, 2011). The disclosures of the two Korean patent applications areincorporated herein by reference.

The packaging container disclosed in the two Korean patent applicationsincludes an accommodating unit, a corrugated insertion unit insertedinto and coupled to the accommodating unit, and a lid unit. Theaccommodating unit includes a bottom plate and a plurality of slantsidewalls extending obliquely upward from the edges of the bottom plate.The lid unit includes a cover portion and a plurality of slant sidewallsobliquely extending from the edges of the cover portion. The corrugatedinsertion unit includes at least one ridge, valleys formed at both sideof the ridge, and support flank walls configured to interconnect theridge and the valley adjoining each other and sequentially inclined inthe opposite directions along a corrugation arrangement direction. Therespective valleys of the corrugated insertion unit include flat valleybottom portions which are coupled to the bottom plate of theaccommodating unit. Stacking through-holes are formed in the bottomplate of the accommodating unit by removing the regions of the bottomplate between the valley bottom portions. Ribs are formed between thestacking through-holes formed in the bottom plate of the accommodatingunit. The valley bottom portions of the corrugated insertion unit arecoupled to the ribs. Thus, when stacking a plurality of containers oneabove another, the ridges of the corrugated insertion unit of the lowercontainer pass through the stacking through-holes of the upper containerand lie below the ridges of the upper container. No interference isgenerated between the valleys and the ridges of the corrugated insertionunits. Moreover, the corrugated insertion unit is spaced apart by aspecified distance from the slant sidewalls of the accommodating unitand is coupled to the bottom plate of the accommodating unit. For thatreason, when stacking a plurality of containers one above another, nointerference is generated between the ridges of the corrugated insertionunit of the lower container and the slant sidewalls of the accommodatingunit of the upper container.

The container disclosed in the two Korean patent applications citedabove is configured to accommodate articles in the valleys. The articlesaccommodated within the valleys are supported by a pair of opposingsupport flank walls so as not to make contact with the bottom plate andthe slant sidewalls of the accommodating unit and the cover portion ofthe lid unit. Accordingly, the container disclosed in the two Koreanpatent applications cited above can prevent an external impact frombeing directly applied to the accommodated articles, thereby safelyprotecting the articles.

However, the container disclosed in the two Korean patent applicationscited above may suffer from the following drawbacks. First, if fragilearticles such as eggs or liquid-containing bottles are broken by animpact, there is a possibility that the contents of the broken articlesare leaked to the outside through the stacking through-holes of theaccommodating unit. Secondly, the structure for fastening the lid unitto the accommodating unit is weak. Thus, there is likelihood that thelid unit is unintentionally opened during transportation or storage,eventually causing damage to the accommodated articles.

The present invention provides a container of a novel structure capableof solving the problems noted above.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container of anovel structure which is stackable, capable of safely protectingarticles by preventing a lid from being unintentionally opened duringstorage or transportation of the container, and capable of enabling auser to easily open the lid to take out the articles from the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container of anovel structure which is stackable, capable of safely protecting fragilearticles, and capable of preventing the contents of articles from beingleaked to the outside even when the articles are damaged.

Means for Solving the Problems

A stackable article-packaging container according to the presentinvention includes an accommodating unit, a lid unit and a locking unit.The accommodating unit includes a receptacle bottom plate and aplurality of slant sidewalls extending from edges of the receptaclebottom plate so as to define a receptacle space. The lid unit includes acover plate and a plurality of slant sidewalls extending from edges ofthe cover plate so as to define a receptacle space. The locking unitincludes a locking bottom plate and a plurality of slant sidewallsextending from edges of the locking bottom plate so as to define areceptacle space.

When the present container is in an folded state, the slant sidewalls ofthe accommodating unit, the slant sidewalls of the lid unit and theslant sidewalls of the locking unit extend obliquely upwardsubstantially at the same inclination, thereby forming the respectivereceptacle spaces. In the present container, the accommodating unit andthe locking unit are disposed at opposite side of the lid unit, one ofthe slant sidewalls of the accommodating unit and one of the slantsidewalls of the lid unit adjoining each other are connected to eachother, one of the slant sidewalls of the lid unit and one of the slantsidewalls of the locking unit adjoining each other are connected to eachother, and the accommodating unit is configured to be received withinthe receptacle space of the locking unit in a state in which the slantsidewalls of the accommodating unit make contact with the slantsidewalls of the locking unit, whereby the lid unit connected to one ofthe slant sidewalls of the accommodating unit can be rotated so as tocover an upper portion of the accommodating unit and the locking unitconnected to one of the slant sidewalls of the lid unit can be rotatedso as to receive a lower portion of the accommodating unit and so as tolock the lid unit against opening.

Furthermore, when the locking unit is rotated about the slant sidewallconnected to the lid unit, the end portions of the slant sidewalls ofthe lid unit make contact with the end portions of the slant sidewallsof the locking unit. Preferably, the slant sidewalls of the lid unitcorrespond to the slant sidewalls of the locking unit such that, whenthe lid unit is closed, the end surfaces of the slant sidewalls of thelid unit make contact with the end surfaces of the slant sidewalls ofthe locking unit, thereby protecting the articles accommodated withinthe container.

The accommodating unit, the lid unit and the locking unit may be made byfolding a paper sheet. The paper sheet includes a cardboard and acorrugated paperboard. In order to improve the surface propertiesthereof, the paper sheet may be coated with a synthetic resin or otherchemical substances. In case where the accommodating unit, the lid unitand the locking unit are made of a paper sheet, they may be one-pieceformed by producing one developed paper sheet with slant sidewallsconnected to each other and by forming fold lines in connectionportions. The present container may be produced by using a materialother than the paper sheet. For example, the present container may beproduced by vacuum-molding a film or by injection-molding a syntheticresin.

When one wishes to open the container to take out the articles from thecontainer, the locking unit and the lid unit need to be rotated in theopposite directions about the slant sidewalls. In this case, there is aPossibility that the articles accommodated within in the container maybe spilled out of the container. In order to enable a user to take outthe articles from the container by rotating only the lid unit, it ispreferred that a rupture line is formed in one or both of the oppositeslant sidewalls of the lid unit. If a rupture line is formed in theslant sidewall of the lid unit connected to the accommodating unit, thearticles can be easily taken out from the container by applying a forceto the rupture line, rupturing the slant sidewall, disconnecting the lidunit and the accommodating unit, rotating the lid unit about the slantsidewall connected to the locking unit and consequently opening thecontainer.

In order to safely accommodate fragile articles such as eggs or the likepiece by piece, the present container may further include a corrugatedinsertion unit inserted into and coupled to the accommodating unit. Thecorrugated insertion unit includes ridges, valleys formed between theridges, and support flank walls configured to interconnect the ridgesand the valleys and inclined sequentially in the opposite directionsalong a corrugation arrangement direction. Each of the valleys of thecorrugated insertion unit includes a flat valley bottom portion coupledto the receptacle bottom plate of the accommodating unit. The receptaclebottom plate has stacking through-holes formed between the valley bottomportions of the valleys. When staking containers one above another, theridges of the lower container are inserted into the stackingthrough-holes of the upper container.

The corrugated insertion unit may be made by folding a paper sheet. Thepaper sheet includes a cardboard and a corrugated paperboard. In orderto improve the surface properties thereof, the paper sheet may be coatedwith a synthetic resin or other chemical substances. The corrugatedinsertion unit includes a plurality of valleys, each of which is definedbetween two fold lines. Thus, each of the valleys of the corrugatedinsertion unit includes a flat valley bottom portion. This makes it easyto bond the corrugated insertion unit to the accommodating unit. Each ofthe corrugations of the corrugated insertion unit extends from onevalley bottom portion to another valley bottom portion. The corrugatedinsertion unit may be produced by using a material other than the papersheet. For example, the corrugated insertion unit may be produced byvacuum-molding a film or by injection-molding a synthetic resin.Particularly, the corrugated insertion unit may be made of any materialas long as the material has substantially the same elasticity as that ofa paper sheet.

Ribs are formed between the stacking through-holes formed in thereceptacle bottom plate of the accommodating unit. The valley bottomportions are coupled to the ribs. Each of the valley bottom portions ofthe corrugated insertion unit may be bonded to the corresponding rib byan adhesive agent or may be coupled to the corresponding rib by metalstaples. Alternatively, the valley bottom portions of the corrugatedinsertion unit may be fitted to the ribs without having to use anadhesive agent, by forming protrusions in the valley bottom portions ofthe corrugated insertion unit and forming grooves in the receptaclebottom plate of the accommodating unit. The stacking through-holesformed in the receptacle bottom plate of the accommodating unitcommunicate with the spaces defined by the adjoining support flank wallsextending from the valley bottom portions coupled to the ribs. Thecorrugated insertion unit is spaced apart by a predetermined distancefrom the slant sidewalls of the accommodating unit and is coupled to thereceptacle bottom plate of the accommodating unit. The slant sidewallsof the accommodating unit are formed to extend obliquely upward. Thesupport flank walls of the corrugated insertion unit are spaced apart bya predetermined distance from the slant sidewalls of the accommodatingunit. Therefore, when one container is stacked above another container,the ridges of the lower container can be inserted through the stackingthrough-holes of the receptacle bottom plate into the spaces defined bythe adjoining support flank walls extending from the valley bottomportions coupled to the ribs. This makes it possible to stack thecontainers one above another. That is to say, during the stackingprocess, no interference is generated by the slant sidewalls of theaccommodating unit or by the ridges of the corrugated insertion unit.

In the stackable article-packaging container according to the presentinvention, it is preferred that fragile articles are accommodatedbetween the support flank walls of the corrugated insertion unit (in thevalleys defined between the ridges). The opposing support flank walls ofthe corrugated insertion unit are tapered so as to become narrow towardthe receptacle bottom plate. Thus, the articles accommodated between theopposing support flank walls do not make contact with the valley bottomportions. Accordingly, an impact applied to the receptacle bottom plateis prevented from being directly transferred to the articles.Furthermore, the slant sidewalls extend obliquely upward from thereceptacle bottom plate of the accommodating unit. Thus, the articlesaccommodated within the container do not make contact with the slantsidewalls of the accommodating unit. Accordingly, an impact applied tothe slant sidewalls of the accommodating unit is not directlytransferred to the articles. This makes it possible to safely storefragile articles such as eggs or the like accommodated in the valleys ofthe corrugated insertion unit. In the stackable article-packagingcontainer according to the present invention, the accommodating unithaving the stacking through-holes is received in the receptacle space ofthe locking unit. Therefore, even if a liquid flows out through thestacking through-holes due to the damage of the accommodated articles,the locking bottom plate existing blow the stacking through-holesprevents the liquid from being leaked to the outside. In the stackablearticle-packaging container according to the present invention, thelocking unit serves as a locking means for preventing the lid unit frombeing unintentionally opened and a leak-preventing means for preventinga liquid contained in eggs or bottles from being leaked to the outsidethrough the stacking through-holes when the eggs or the bottles arebroken.

In the stackable article-packaging container according to the presentinvention, it is preferred that the support flank walls of thecorrugated insertion unit are tapered such that thecorrugation-width-direction dimension thereof becomes smaller toward theridges. If the support flank walls of the corrugated insertion unit aretapered in this way, it becomes easy to insert the ridges of thecorrugated insertion unit of the lower container into the stackingthrough-holes of the upper container.

It is also preferred that the height of the ridges of the corrugatedinsertion unit is set larger than the height of the slant sidewalls ofthe accommodating unit such that, when the lid unit is closed, the topportions of the ridges of the corrugated insertion unit make contactwith the cover plate of the lid unit so as to protect the accommodatedarticles. Each of the ridges of the corrugated insertion unit may bedefined by two fold lines so as to form a flat top portion or may bedefined by a single fold line so as to form a top portion having anacute angle. If the top portion of each of the ridges is formed to havean acute angle, it is possible to reduce thecorrugation-arrangement-direction length of the container, therebymaking the container compact.

In the present invention, when the valleys and the ridges are formed bysequentially folding the fold lines formed in the paper sheet, thecorrugation arrangement direction (indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 1)means the direction extending from one ridge to another adjoining ridge(from one valley to another adjoining valley). The corrugation widthdirection (indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 1) means the width directionof the corrugated insertion unit (the longitudinal direction of thevalleys or the ridges).

In the stackable article-packaging container according to the presentinvention, a shock-absorbing partition plate may be installed in therespective valleys in order to prevent the articles accommodated in thevalleys of the corrugated insertion unit from moving in the corrugationwidth direction and colliding with each other. Notches extending in thecorrugation arrangement direction may be formed in the ridges of thecorrugated insertion unit such that the shock-absorbing partition plateis fitted to the notches. The respective valleys are divided by fittingthe shock-absorbing partition plate to the notches formed in the ridgesof the corrugated insertion unit.

In the stackable article-packaging container according to the presentinvention, if the corrugated insertion unit has only one ridge, thearticles can be accommodated between the support flank walls of thecorrugated insertion unit and the slant sidewalls of the accommodatingunit. Even when the corrugated insertion unit has a plurality of ridges,the articles can be accommodated between the support flank walls of thecorrugated insertion unit and the slant sidewalls of the accommodatingunit. This makes it possible to save the article packaging cost. Inorder to prevent an impact applied to the slant sidewalls from beingdirectly transferred to the articles when articles are accommodatedbetween the support flank walls of the corrugated insertion unit and theslant sidewalls of the accommodating unit, the accommodating unit mayfurther include a pair of support wing portions extending outward fromthe slant sidewalls of the accommodating unit in the corrugationarrangement direction, and the lid unit may further include a pair ofsupport wing portions extending outward from the slant sidewalls of thelid unit in the corrugation arrangement direction. The support wingportions of the accommodating unit are folded toward the receptaclebottom plate of the accommodating unit. The support wing portions of thelid unit are folded toward the cover plate of the lid unit. Thus, whenthe articles are accommodated between the support flank walls of thecorrugated insertion unit and the folded support wing portions, thesupport wing portions restrain an impact applied to the slant sidewallsfrom being directly transferred to the articles.

In the stackable article-packaging container according to the presentinvention, through-holes or rupture lines for partially accommodatingthe articles may be formed in the opposing support flank walls of thecorrugated insertion unit such that the articles having a circular orelliptical cross section, such as eggs or the like, are prevented frommoving in the corrugation width direction. Moreover, through-holes forpartially accommodating the articles may be formed in the support wingportions. In addition, the support wing portions of the accommodatingunit are folded so as to make contact with the receptacle bottom plateof the accommodating unit at free ends thereof. The support wingportions of the lid unit are folded so as to make contact with the coverplate of the lid unit at free ends thereof. As a result, the supportwing portions are kept at a predetermined inclination angle so as tosafely support the articles.

Advantageous Effects

The stackable article-packaging container according to the presentinvention is provided with the accommodating unit, the lid unit and thelocking unit. The accommodating unit is received within the locking unitsuch that the slant sidewalls of the accommodating unit make contactwith the slant sidewalls of the locking unit. The locking unit has alocking function of keeping the container against opening. Thus, the lidunit is prevented from being opened during storage or transportation.Moreover, the lid unit of the container can be easily opened byrupturing the rupture portion formed in the lid unit.

If the stackable article-packaging container according to the presentinvention is further provided with the corrugated insertion unit, it ispossible to accommodate the articles so as not to make contact with thereceptacle bottom plate, the cover plate and the slant sidewalls of thecontainer. Thus, an external impact applied to the container isprevented from being directly transferred to the accommodated articles.This makes it possible to safely store fragile articles.

If the stackable article-packaging container according to the presentinvention is made of a paper sheet, there is provided an advantage inthat, as compared with a container produced by pulp molding, it ispossible to use an environmentally-friendly and energy-saving productionmethod and it is possible to directly print information on the surfaceof the container.

In the stackable article-packaging container according to the presentinvention, even if liquid-containing articles are broken, it is possiblefor the locking bottom plate of the locking unit to prevent a liquidfrom being leaked out of the container. In addition, the presentcontainer is structurally simple and is suitable for mass production.This makes it possible to provide an inexpensive article-packagingcontainer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a stackable article-packagingcontainer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a developed view of an accommodating unit, a lid unit and alocking unit of the container shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a developed view of a corrugated insertion unit of thecontainer shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the lid unitof the container shown in FIG. 1 is closed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which theaccommodating unit is received and locked within the locking unit in thecontainer shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view illustrating a state in which eggs areaccommodated within the container shown in FIG. 1

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

One preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a stackable article-packagingcontainer according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3is a developed view of an accommodating unit, a lid unit and a lockingunit of the container shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a developed view of acorrugated insertion unit of the container shown in FIG. 2. For the sakeof convenience in description, the direction indicated by an arrow A inFIG. 1 will be referred to as a corrugation arrangement direction. Thedirection indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 1 will be referred to as acorrugation width direction.

Referring to FIG. 1, the stackable article-packaging container 100according to the present invention is designed to accommodate, e.g.,eggs. However, the use of the container 100 is not limited thereto. Thecontainer 100 includes an accommodating unit 110, a lid unit 120 and alocking unit 130. A corrugated insertion unit 150 is inserted into areceptacle space of the accommodating unit 110. A shock-absorbingpartition plate 155 for dividing valleys may be fitted to thecorrugation width direction centers of ridges M of the corrugatedinsertion unit 150. In the present embodiment, the shock-absorbingpartition plate 155 may be selectively used depending on the necessity.

Description will now be made on a case where the accommodating unit 110,the lid unit 120 and the locking unit 130 are made of a cardboard or acorrugated paperboard. However, the present invention is not limitedthereto. The accommodating unit 110, the lid unit 120 and the lockingunit 130 may be produced by vacuum-molding a synthetic resin film or byinjection-molding a synthetic resin. Information indicating a trademarkor a source of articles may be printed on the rear surface of a papersheet exposed to the outside of the container 100. In view of the easeof printing, it is desirable to use a cardboard as the material of theaccommodating unit 110, the lid unit 120 and the locking unit 130.Taking the strength of the container 100 into account, it is preferableto use a corrugated paperboard as the material of the accommodating unit110, the lid unit 120 and the locking unit 130. Alternatively, a papersheet coated with a synthetic resin or the like may be used such thatthe container 100 can resist humidity or moisture.

Referring to FIG. 3, the accommodating unit 110, the lid unit 120 andthe locking unit 130 are produced by folding a developed paper sheetwhich is obtained by die-cutting or punching a single paper sheet with apress machine. In FIG. 3, fold lines are indicated by dot lines and aredesignated by alphabetic reference symbols.

Rupture lines are indicated by solid lines and are designated bynumerical reference symbols.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the accommodating unit 110 includes arectangular receptacle bottom plate 111 and four slant sidewalls 112,113, 114 and 115 extending from the edges of the receptacle bottom plate111. A receptacle space C1 of the accommodating unit 110 is defined bythe four slant sidewalls 112, 113, 114 and 115 folded obliquely upwardat a rectangular fold line al formed along the edges of the receptaclebottom plate 111. Referring again to FIG. 3, support wing portions 116and 117 extend outward from the slant sidewalls 114 and 115 positionedat the corrugation-arrangement-direction opposite ends of theaccommodating unit 110. Through-holes 116 a, 116 b, 117 a and 117 b forpartially accommodating and holding eggs are formed in the respectivesupport wing portions 116 and 117. The support wing portions 116 and 117are respectively connected to the slant sidewalls 115 and 116 at foldlines bl. Referring to FIG. 2, the respective support wing portions 116and 117 of the accommodating unit 110 are folded such that the free endportions thereof make contact with the receptacle bottom plate 111. Theslant sidewalls 114 and 115 positioned at thecorrugation-arrangement-direction opposite ends of the accommodatingunit 110 include bonding portions 114 a, 114 b, 115 a and 115 b dividedby fold lines c1. The bonding portions 114 a, 114 b, 115 a and 115 b arebonded to the adjoining slant sidewalls 112 and 113 by an adhesiveagent, thereby forming the receptacle space C1. In the receptacle bottomplate 111, four rectangular stacking through-holes 111 a are formed at aregular interval along the corrugation arrangement direction. Thestacking through-holes 111 a are formed into, e.g., a rectangular shape.The dimension of the stacking through-holes 111 a in the transversedirection (the corrugation arrangement direction) is substantially equalto the gap between the adjoining valley bottom portions of thecorrugated insertion unit 150 kept in a folded state. The dimension ofthe stacking through-holes 111 a in the longitudinal direction(corrugation width direction) is equal to or a little larger than thecorrugation-width-direction length of the corrugated insertion unit 150.A plurality of ribs 111 b is formed between the stacking through-holes111 a of the receptacle bottom plate 111.

Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lid unit 120 includes arectangular cover plate 121 and four slant sidewalls 122, 123, 124 and125 extending from the edges of the cover plate 121. A receptacle spaceC2 of the lid unit 120 is defined by the four slant sidewalls 122, 123,124 and 125 folded obliquely upward at a rectangular fold line a2 formedalong the edges of the cover plate 121. In the container 100 of thepresent embodiment, the accommodating unit 110 and the lid unit 120 areconnected to each other at a rupture line 142. The lid unit 120 and thelocking unit 130 are connected to each other at a fold line d.

Furthermore, support wing portions 126 and 127 extend outward from theslant sidewalls 124 and 125 positioned at thecorrugation-arrangement-direction opposite ends of the lid unit 120.Through-holes 126 a, 126 b, 127 a and 127 b for partially accommodatingand holding eggs are formed in the respective support wing portions 126and 127. Referring to FIG. 2, the respective support wing portions 126and 127 of the lid unit 120 are folded such that the free end portionsthereof make contact with the cover plate 121. The slant sidewalls 124and 125 positioned at the corrugation-arrangement-direction oppositeends of the lid unit 120 include bonding portions 124 a, 124 b, 125 aand 125 b divided by fold lines c2. The bonding portions 124 a, 124 b,125 a and 125 b are bonded to the adjoining slant sidewalls 122 and 123by an adhesive agent, thereby forming the receptacle space C2. The slantsidewall 122 positioned at one corrugation-width-direction end of thelid unit 120 is connected to the slant sidewall 113 of the accommodatingunit 110 at rupture line 142. The slant sidewall 123 positioned at theother corrugation-width-direction end of the lid unit 120 is connectedto the slant sidewall 132 of the locking unit 130 at the fold line d. Inthe slant sidewall 122, there is formed a rupture line 143 forseparating the lid unit 120 from the accommodating unit 110 to open thelid unit 120. A rupture portion 141 is defined by the rupture lines 142and 143. A knob 144 for facilitating rupture of the rupture portion 141is formed at one end of the rupture portion 141.

The locking unit 130 includes a rectangular locking bottom plate 131 andfour slant sidewalls 132, 133, 134 and 135 extending from the edges ofthe locking bottom plate 131. A receptacle space C3 of the locking unit130 is defined by the four slant sidewalls 132, 133, 134 and 135 foldedobliquely upward at a rectangular fold line a3 formed along the edges ofthe locking bottom plate 131. The slant sidewalls 134 and 135 positionedat the corrugation-arrangement-direction opposite ends of the lockingunit 130 include bonding portions 134 a, 134 b, 135 a and 135 b dividedby fold lines c3. The bonding portions 134 a, 134 b, 135 a and 135 b arebonded to the adjoining slant sidewalls 132 and 133 by an adhesiveagent, thereby forming the receptacle space C3. Except for the supportwing portions 126 and 127 of the lid unit 120, the lid unit 120 and thelocking unit 130 are symmetrical with respect to the fold line d. If thelid unit 120 is rotated about the rupture line 142 so as to cover theupper portion of the accommodating unit 110 and if the locking unit 130is rotated about the fold line d so as to cover the lower portion of theaccommodating unit 110 and so as to lock the lid unit 120 againstopening, the slant sidewalls 122, 123, 124 and 125 of the lid unit 120make contact with the corresponding slant sidewalls 132, 133, 134 and135 of the locking unit 130 at their end surfaces. Thus, the lid unit120 and the locking unit 130 are symmetrically arranged so as to protectthe articles accommodated within the container 100.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the corrugated insertion unit 150 is made byforming fold lines on a paper sheet such that four ridges M and fivevalleys G are formed and by sequentially folding the paper sheet in azigzag pattern. In case where the corrugated insertion unit 150 is madeof a paper sheet, it may be possible to use a cardboard or >a corrugatedpaperboard as the paper sheet. The valleys G of the corrugated insertionunit 150 includes a plurality of intermediate valley bottom portions 151defined between fold lines u and v and two end valley bottom portions151 positioned at the corrugation arrangement direction opposite ends ofthe corrugated insertion unit 150 and so as to extend flat from one foldline u or v. Each of the ridges M of the corrugated insertion unit 150includes a fold line w and a pair of obliquely-folded support flankwalls 152 adjoining each other. Alternatively, each of the ridges M mayhave a flat top portion defined between two fold lines. In each of thesupport flank walls 152, there are formed through-holes 152 a and 152 bfor restraining the articles accommodated within the valleys G frommoving in the corrugation width direction. While not shown in thedrawings, instead of the through-holes 154, a plurality of rupture linesfor restraining the articles accommodated within the valleys G frommoving in the corrugation width direction may be formed at the positionscorresponding to the positions of the through-holes 154. The gap betweenthe valleys G of the corrugated insertion unit 150 is substantiallyequal to the gap between the ribs 111 b of the accommodating unit 110.The valley bottom portions 151 of the corrugated insertion unit 150 arerespectively coupled to the corresponding ribs 111 b of theaccommodating unit 110 by virtue of an adhesive agent. Thus, thecorrugated insertion unit 150 is maintained in a corrugated state suchthat the articles accommodated within the valleys G are supported by thesupport flank walls 152 with suitable elasticity. In the presentembodiment, the ribs 111 b of the accommodating unit 110 and the valleybottom portions 151 of the corrugated insertion unit 150 are coupledtogether through the use of an adhesive agent. Alternatively, the ribs111 b of the accommodating unit 110 and the valley bottom portions 151of the corrugated insertion unit 150 may be coupled together by metalstaples or by inserting protrusions formed in the valley bottom portions151 into grooves formed in the receptacle bottom plate 111. Notches 153extending in the corrugation arrangement direction are formed in thesupport flank walls 152 of the ridges M of the corrugated insertion unit150. A shock-absorbing partition plate 155 is fitted to the notches 153,thereby dividing the valleys G and preventing the articles from movingand colliding with each other. Referring again to FIG. 1, theshock-absorbing partition plate 155 includes shock-absorbing portions155 b inserted into the respective valleys G and connection portions 155a fitted to the notches 153 and configured to interconnect theshock-absorbing portions 155 b.

FIG. 5 illustrates a state in which eggs are accommodated within thecontainer 100 of the present embodiment and in which the lid unit 120 isrotated counterclockwise about the rupture line 142 so as to cover theupper portion of the accommodating unit 110. FIG. 6 illustrates a statein which the locking unit 130 is rotated counterclockwise about the foldline d so as to cover the lower portion of the accommodating unit 110and so as to lock the lid unit 120 against opening. If one wishes toopen the lid unit 120 of the container 100, the rupture portion 141defined between the rupture lines 142 and 143 is removed from the slantsidewall 122 of the lid unit 120 as illustrated in FIG. 6. Then, the lidunit 120 is rotated about the fold line d to open the container 100.Referring again to FIG. 1, even when the rupture portion 141 is removed,the lid unit 120 and the locking unit 130 are kept in a connected stateand are provided with the receptacle spaces C2 and C3. Thus, the lidunit 120 and the locking unit 130 may be reused as a disposable tray.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a state in which eggsare accommodated within the container 100 of the present embodiment.Referring to FIG. 7, the eggs E1 accommodated between the opposingsupport flank walls 152 of the corrugated insertion unit 150 arepartially inserted into the through-holes 152 a and 152 b of the supportflank walls 152 and are restrained from moving in the corrugation widthdirection. Thus, the eggs E1 do not make contact with the slantsidewalls 112 and 113 positioned at the corrugation-width-directionopposite ends of the accommodating unit 110. Accordingly, an impactapplied to the slant sidewalls 112 and 113 is prevented from beingdirectly transferred to the eggs E1. The opposing support flank walls152 of the corrugated insertion unit 150 are tapered so as to becomenarrow toward the receptacle bottom plate 111. Thus, the eggs E1accommodated in the valleys G do not make contact with the valley bottomportions 151. Accordingly, an impact applied to the receptacle bottomplate 111 is prevented from being directly transferred to the eggs E1.Moreover, even if two eggs E1 accommodated between the support flankwalls 152 are moved in the corrugation width direction, theshock-absorbing partition plate 155 prevents the eggs E1 from collidingwith each other and being broken.

Furthermore, the eggs E2 accommodated between the support flank walls152 positioned at the corrugation arrangement direction opposite ends ofthe corrugated insertion unit 150, the support wing portions 116 and 117of the accommodating unit 110 and the support wing portions 126 and 127of the lid unit 120 are supported by the support wing portions 116, 117,126 and 127 so as not to make contact with the slant sidewalls 114, 115,124 and 125. Accordingly, an impact applied to the slant sidewalls 114,115, 124 and 125 is prevented from being directly transferred to theeggs E2. Moreover, the eggs E2 are partially inserted into thethrough-holes formed in the support wing portions 116 and 117 of theaccommodating unit 110 and the support wing portions 126 and 127 of thelid unit 120 and are prevented from moving in the corrugation widthdirection. In addition, the shock absorbing partition plate 155 preventsthe eggs from colliding with each other and being damaged.

The lid unit 120 is formed into the same size as the size of the lockingunit 130. When the lid unit 120 and the locking unit 130 are closed, theend portions of the slant sidewalls 122, 123, 124 and 125 of the lidunit 120 make contact with the end portions of the corresponding slantsidewalls 132, 133, 134 and 135 of the locking unit 130, therebyprotecting the eggs accommodated within the container 100. Furthermore,the height of the ridges M of the corrugated insertion unit 150 is setlarger than the height of the slant sidewalls 112, 113, 114 and 115 ofthe accommodating unit 110 such that the ridges M make contact with thecover plate 121 of the lid unit 120. Accordingly, an impact applied tothe cover plate 121 of the lid unit 120 is prevented from being directlytransferred to the eggs E1 and E2. That is to say, the stackablearticle-packaging container 100 according to the present invention cansupport articles in a floating state and can prevent an external impactfrom being directly transferred to the articles.

In the container 100 of the present embodiment, the accommodating unit110 having the stacking through-holes 111 a is received within thereceptacle space C3 of the locking unit 130. Therefore, even if a liquidflows out through the stacking through-holes 111 a due to the damage ofthe eggs E1 and E2, the locking bottom plate 131 existing below thestacking through-holes 111 a can prevent the liquid from being leaked tothe outside. In the stackable article-packaging container 100 accordingto the present invention, the locking unit 130 serves as a locking meansfor preventing the lid unit 120 from being unintentionally opened and aleak-preventing means for preventing a liquid contained in eggs orbottles from being leaked to the outside through the stackingthrough-holes 111 a when the eggs or the bottles are broken.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the container 100 of the present embodimentcan be stacked only when the shock-absorbing partition plate 155 is notassembled. Thus, prior to articles being accommodated within thecontainer 100, the container 100 is transported and stored with theshock-absorbing partition plate 155 removed. The use of theshock-absorbing partition plate 155 is optional. If necessary, theshock-absorbing partition plate 155 may be fitted to the corrugatedinsertion unit 150 just before articles are accommodated within thecontainer 100.

Brief description will be made on a case where a plurality of containers100 is stacked with the shock-absorbing partition plate removed. Thecontainers 100 are stacked one above another in such a state that theshock-absorbing partition plates are removed and the support wingportions of the accommodating unit and the lid unit are unfolded. Whenstacking the containers one above another, the ridges of the lowercontainer are inserted into the spaces existing below the ridges of theupper container through the stacking through-holes of the uppercontainer and are pressed against the lower surfaces of the ridges ofthe upper container. Furthermore, the slant sidewalls of the uppercontainer are inserted into the receptacle space defined by the slantsidewalls of the lower container. Moreover, the support wing portions ofthe upper container are paced on the support wing portions of the lowercontainer.

The container according to the present invention can be stacked with theaccommodating unit, the lid unit and the locking unit kept in anunfolded state. This is because the container has the followingstructures. First, the corrugated insertion unit 150 is coupled to thereceptacle bottom plate 111 in such a state that they are spaced apartby a predetermined distance from the slant sidewalls 112, 113, 114 and115 of the accommodating unit 110. Thus, the slant sidewalls 112, 113,114 and 115 do not interfere with the corrugated insertion unit 150during a stacking process. Secondly, the stacking through-holes 111 aare formed in the receptacle bottom plate 111 to which the corrugatedinsertion unit 150 is coupled. Thus, the ridges of the corrugatedinsertion unit of another container can be inserted into the stackingthrough-holes 111 a. Thirdly, the support flank walls 152 of thecorrugated insertion unit 150 are inclined and the slant sidewalls ofthe accommodating unit 110, the lid unit 120 and the locking unit 130are inclined. As set forth above, the container of the Presentembodiment can be stacked, stored and transported with theshock-absorbing partition plate removed. Thus, the container does notoccupy a large space during storage and transportation. This makes iteconomical to store and transport the container.

While one preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed above, the present invention is not limited to theaforementioned specific embodiment. It goes without saying that a personskilled in the relevant art can make various changes and modificationswithout departing from the scope of the invention defined in the claims.Such changes and modifications shall be construed to fall within thescope of the present invention.

1. A stackable article-packaging container, comprising: an accommodating unit including a receptacle bottom plate and a plurality of slant sidewalls extending from edges of the receptacle bottom plate so as to define a receptacle space; a lid unit including a cover plate and a plurality of slant sidewalls extending from edges of the cover plate so as to define a receptacle space; and a locking unit including a locking bottom plate and a plurality of slant sidewalls extending from edges of the locking bottom plate so as to define a receptacle space; wherein the accommodating unit and the locking unit are disposed at opposite side of the lid unit, one of the slant sidewalls of the accommodating unit and one of the slant sidewalls of the lid unit adjoining each other are connected to each other, one of the slant sidewalls of the lid unit and one of the slant sidewalls of the locking unit adjoining each other are connected to each other, and the accommodating unit is configured to be received within the receptacle space of the locking unit in a state in which the slant sidewalls of the accommodating unit make contact with the slant sidewalls of the locking unit, whereby the lid unit connected to one of the slant sidewalls of the accommodating unit can be rotated so as to cover an upper portion of the accommodating unit and the locking unit connected to one of the slant sidewalls of the lid unit can be rotated so as to receive a lower portion of the accommodating unit and so as to lock the lid unit against opening.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein a rupture line is formed in at least one of the slant sidewall of the lid unit connected to the accommodating unit and the slant sidewall of the lid unit connected to the locking unit.
 3. The container of claim 1, further comprising: a corrugated insertion unit including ridges, valleys formed between the ridges, and support flank walls configured to interconnect the ridges and the valleys and inclined sequentially in the opposite directions along a corrugation arrangement direction, wherein each of the valleys of the corrugated insertion unit includes a flat valley bottom portion coupled to the receptacle bottom plate of the accommodating unit, and the receptacle bottom plate has stacking through-holes formed between the valley bottom portions of the valleys.
 4. The container of claim 3, further comprising: a shock-absorbing partition plate configured to divide the valleys of the corrugated insertion unit, wherein notches extending in the corrugation arrangement direction are formed in the ridges of the corrugated insertion unit such that the shock-absorbing partition plate is fitted to the notches.
 5. The container of claim 3, wherein through-holes for partially accommodating articles are formed in at least one of the support flank walls of the corrugated insertion unit.
 6. The container of claim 3, wherein the accommodating unit further includes a pair of support wing portions extending outward from the slant sidewalls of the accommodating unit in the corrugation arrangement direction, and the lid unit further includes a pair of support wing portions extending outward from the slant sidewalls of the lid unit in the corrugation arrangement direction.
 7. The container of claim 6, wherein the support wing portions of the accommodating unit are folded so as to make contact with the receptacle bottom plate of the accommodating unit at free ends thereof, the support wing portions of the lid unit are folded so as to make contact with the cover plate of the lid unit at free ends thereof, and at least one through-hole for partially accommodating an article is formed in each of the support wing portions.
 8. The container of claim 2, further comprising: a corrugated insertion unit including ridges, valleys formed between the ridges, and support flank walls configured to interconnect the ridges and the valleys and inclined sequentially in the opposite directions along a corrugation arrangement direction, wherein each of the valleys of the corrugated insertion unit includes a flat valley bottom portion coupled to the receptacle bottom plate of the accommodating unit, and the receptacle bottom plate has stacking through-holes formed between the valley bottom portions of the valleys.
 9. The container of claim 8, further comprising: a shock-absorbing partition plate configured to divide the valleys of the corrugated insertion unit, wherein notches extending in the corrugation arrangement direction are formed in the ridges of the corrugated insertion unit such that the shock-absorbing partition plate is fitted to the notches.
 10. The container of claim 8, wherein through-holes for partially accommodating articles are formed in at least one of the support flank walls of the corrugated insertion unit.
 11. The container of claim 8, wherein the accommodating unit further includes a pair of support wing portions extending outward from the slant sidewalls of the accommodating unit in the corrugation arrangement direction, and the lid unit further includes a pair of support wing portions extending outward from the slant sidewalls of the lid unit in the corrugation arrangement direction.
 12. The container of claim 11, wherein the support wing portions of the accommodating unit are folded so as to make contact with the receptacle bottom plate of the accommodating unit at free ends thereof, the support wing portions of the lid unit are folded so as to make contact with the cover plate of the lid unit at free ends thereof, and at least one through-hole for partially accommodating an article is formed in each of the support wing portions. 